A Caribbean Cruise Aboard the All-Inclusive, Luxurious Scenic Eclipse II: A Memorable Voyage of Discovery

IMAGINE THAT YOU’VE BEEN looking for an elegantly relaxed yacht full of like-minded people, curious travellers seeking new ports, great photo opportunities, and some remarkable snorkelling over coral gardens and deep abysses. Scenic Luxury Cruises will warmly welcome you as they showcase both Expedition and Exploration (or, as they say, Discovery), cruising to both ends of the world and many places in between. With 200 to 228 guests on each ship, Scenic Eclipse I and her new sister, Eclipse II, sail the globe from pole to pole in search of remarkable experiences, intriguing wildlife, impressive sights, captivating vistas and endless sunsets. Above all, they’re in search of ways to ignite your sense of wonder.

We packed the wonder and some wanderlust, along with a few bathing suits, shorts, tee shirts, and smart yet casual evening clothing, and ensured the camera was ready. We were also prepared for Zodiac landings. You’re shown the correct way to get in and out of your inflatable boat since some landings are wet, and you’ll learn to keep your sense of humour intact. Be sure to brush up on trivia as you will feel compelled to participate in the fun daily quiz, and you’ll enjoy fascinating lectures and talks, as well as culinary demos in the Theatre. Depending on where your yacht is cruising, you may even be able to take flight in one of the two onboard helicopters or go down to the ocean depths in the onboard submersible.

We enjoyed exemplary service from an impressive brigade of staff, whose well-polished yet personal interactions made every meal a wonderful experience. Everywhere on our yacht, we found everyone friendly, knowledgeable and impressive in whatever exchange we had. The crew, staff, our affable Hotel Manager, Richard, and our wonderfully charming Captain Torry, who hailed from Norway, made our cruise even better. I have to say that over many years and on more than 400 cruises, I have rarely enjoyed better or more charming service across the board.

Scenic Lounge (Photo credit: Vanessa Lee)

Choice is always an integral part of luxury cruising, even if it’s a casual onboard feel, and we did not lack a variety of excellent restaurants. Among the various dining spots on Scenic Eclipse II, we regularly enjoyed the casual Azure Café open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6 am to 9 pm. Think breakfast fixings, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and tasty treats.

Another daytime favourite was the Yacht Club, which invariably beckoned us for an al fresco lunch. A glass of French rosé, some delicious food served from a buffet, and that ever-present, harmonious service ensured these meals were enjoyable. Chatting with our fellow travellers (many repeat Scenic guests) and sharing stories of the morning’s tour or snorkel excursion was always a pleasure. The camaraderie of small ship cruising can’t be underestimated because one of the most enjoyable aspects of the adventure is connecting with other guests and sharing those unforgettable personalized experiences.

Other dining choices included my favourite - Lumière, a delightfully intimate venue offering delicious French cuisine and a Champagne bar. A knowledgeable sommelier paired wines, and the restaurant is a must-reserve spot. I loved sitting at the bar counter, enjoying a glass of bubbly and a taste of caviar before our meal. For lovers of Sushi and Asian fusion cuisine, the ship offers Koko’s, where you can reserve a seat at the Sushi Bar (very popular) or enjoy a regular menu in this attractive eatery. Several times a week, one can book the special Night Market @Koko’s, with a limited number of guests, where the street food of night markets inspires the cuisine – perhaps Greek food, an Indian theme, or Filipino dishes. The main dining room Elements, is perfect for a relaxed dining experience with Italian-inspired dishes, steaks and seafood while an invitation-only private dining room, dubbed Chef’s Table @ Elements, offers a curated menu for 10 guests.

Paradise! A perfect beach day in the San Blas Islands. (Photo credit: Vanessa Lee)

On our cruise, we sailed with a celebrity Chef from the Eastern US – Bryan Voltaggio. He comes with quite a pedigree, has been on Top Chef as a finalist three times, and will be a judge on the show next year. He is a very engaging chap and a terrific chef who puts a special focus on seafood. One day in the Theatre, we enjoyed a culinary demo on how to make Maryland Blue Crab cakes. On four nights of the voyage, Chef Voltaggio took over Lumière for an exclusive tasting menu – fully booked each night. Scenic is a food-focused cruise line,(river and ocean), and often has famous and celebrity chefs on their ocean and river cruises, and their smaller sister line, Emerald Cruises, does the same. A foodie’s delight!

Naturally, the itinerary is often the key when booking a cruise and we all have bucket list destinations. Sometimes, it’s a getaway moment, and many on our sailing wanted to transit the Panama Canal – which was a lovely and fascinating day. On our itinerary, we happily immersed ourselves in the flora and fauna of islands we had barely heard about. We splashed and snorkelled and swam to our hearts’ content, and on one memorable day, we had the best beach party on the most beautiful slice of paradise you could imagine. This was in the San Blas Islands, home to the Guna Indians, who kindly let us come to their island, interact with their people and then frolic in the water with some of the local children. We had so much fun and also enjoyed some fantastic snorkelling. A highlight was doing “aquabics” in the clear, azure water, with Richard wading into the sea in his uniform to bring us Champagne (in plastic glasses), and our delightful Captain Torry joining the shenanigans in the water. These are the days of laughter and memories.

Scenic Eclipse II passing through the Panama Canal. (Photo courtesy of Scenic Cruises)

On another beach day in the Pearl Islands - a Panamanian archipelago – most guests helped clean up the flotsam and jetsam that had been washed ashore on the beach in a big storm. It felt good to contribute to this beautiful area of the world, as well as to snorkel, beachcomb, kayak, or try a stand-up paddleboard.

A must-do for many on our yacht was an excursion into the mangroves to look for three-toed sloths, which are notoriously hard to find. It was our lucky day as several were spotted! We also loved the quirky, laid-back vibe of Bocas del Toro in Panama which felt like the Florida Keys of old. Colourful buildings, dive centres, surf shops, funky bars and friendly locals made this terrific stop something different.

The yacht offers an all-inclusive onboard atmosphere – no tipping required as it’s included in the fare (although we did give extra to some of our favourite staff). All drinks are included – with a fine choice of wines, cocktails, and more than 100 Whiskeys and Champagne – and no restaurant upcharges. We enjoyed the excellent, caring services of Minty, our butler (every room is a suite, and each suite has the services of a butler, which is lovely), in our expansive and comfortable verandah accommodation. There’s a sleeping area and a lounging space, a mini-bar refreshed daily, an Illy coffee maker and a kettle, water bottles, binoculars and a very comfy bed – all you could wish for.

On this warm water Discovery cruise, with our knowledgeable Discovery team leading the charge on our outings, we had a very special times both ashore and on our yacht. It could not have been any better.

Written by Vanessa Lee (Cruise & Travel Lifestyles - Winter/Spring 2024)